The Waratahs have turned to Wallabies flanker Rocky Elsom as their captain for the 2012 Super Rugby season.

Elsom rejoined the Waratahs in 2012 after spending the last two seasons playing for arch rivals the Brumbies. Waratahs coach Michael Foley is ecstatic to have Elsom back at the club and said the 28-year-old was the obvious choice to take over from previous skipper Phil Waugh.

"We have spent the past months in discussions with senior players in an effort to determine the best man for the job," Foley said. "There will never be a perfect replacement for retired skipper Phil Waugh. However, after defining the role and what it was the players expected and wanted from a captain, Rocky was the stand-out candidate."

Elsom, who has 75 caps for his country, is currently recovering from a hamstring injury and is expected to be available for the Waratahs within the first month of the new season. The Waratahs start their 2012 campaign with a home game against the Reds on February 25.

And elsewhere in Super Rugby, the Highlanders face a number of injury worries ahead of the big kick-off. Fly-half Colin Slade underwent a hernia operation last week but hopes to be fit for their final pre-season match. And lock Jarrad Hoeata, centre Siale Piutau and Shaun Treeby are also injury doubts.

Hoeata will miss the first six weeks of the season with a bicep injury while Piutau has undergone the surgeon's knife on his ankle and will be out for a month. Treeby, however, is back in training after knee surgery.

"A lot of guys still have injuries and are not taking a full part in training," coach Jamie Joseph told Sportal. "But these things happen and it is better we are careful with them now and get them right for the season."